Container and safety closure seal therefor

ABSTRACT

A squeeze-type or glass container and a safety closure therefor wherein the container and closure have portions that are interengageable in sealing relationship when the closure is mounted on the container neck to make the closure difficult to remove especially by children and the closure having a flushfitted flap integral with it and resting in a recess in the top of the closure and on a partition at the bottom of the recess provided with at least one dispensing opening. The flap has an integral plug or bung or covering element to seal the opening in flush flap position. The flap may be swung from its flush position on the closure to an open position by a proper user to lift the plug or covering element and uncover the dispensing opening in the partition of the closure, the sealing fit of the closure or the container and the normally flush position of said flap making it very difficult it not impossible for children to lift the flap of the closure from its flush position or to remove the closure from the container, thus providing safe storage for dangerous container contents and preventing unauthorized access thereto.

United States Patent Inventor Edward J. Towns 53 Mounthaven Drive, Livingston, NJ. 07039 Appl. No. 822,662

Filed May 7, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 CONTAINER AND SAFETY CLOSURE SEAL THEREFOR 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 215/40, 215/41, 215/9, 222/153, 215/51 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d23/00, B65d 53/00 [50] Field of Search 222/147, 153, 541, 556; 215/9, 40, 41, 51; 220/315 R, 60

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,991,913 6/1961 Groth 222/153 3,250,436 5/1966 Kurtz.... 222/541 X 3,398,847 8/1968 Towns 215/9 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Att0rneyKenyon 8L Kenyon ABSTRACT: A squeeze-type or glass container and a safety closure therefor wherein the container and closure have portions that are interengageable in sealing relationship when the closure is mounted on the container neck to make the closure difficult to remove especially by children and the closure having a flush-fitted flap integral with it and resting in a recess in the top of the closure and on a partition at the bottom of the recess provided with at least one dispensing opening. The flap has an integral plug or bung or covering element to seal the opening in flush flap position. The flap may be swung from its flush position on the closure to an open position by a proper user to lift the plug or covering element and uncover the dispensing opening in the partition of the closure, the sealing fit of the closure or the container and the normally flush position of said flap making it very difficult it not impossible for children to lift the flap of the closure from its flush position or to remove the closure from the container, thus providing safe storage for dangerous container contents and preventing unauthorized access thereto.

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llllll' PATENTEU Sm 419m 3,604,585

sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR EDWARD J. TOVINS BY -/0M/ ATTORNE s z CONTAINER AND SAFETY CLOSURE SEAL THEREFOR RELATED APPLICATIONS Related applications Ser. No. 743,685, filed July 9, 1968, now abandoned and Ser. No. 791,592, filed Jan. 16, 1969 are copending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Squeeze-type containers are frequently used for dangerous contents and unauthorized use especially by children must closures prevented. Such containers and also rigid safety containers and closures intended to prevent the access to or removal of dangerous contents therefrom by children or accidental removal by others are prevalent but have not been popularly accepted by the public or producers of such containers for a number of reasons. Among these are complexity of construction and assembly contributing to excessive and impracticably high manufacturing costs, difficulty of manipulation in application and opening of the closure so that only people with a mechanical bent or thoroughly familiar with the structure can use it without annoyance and also because of the relatively short life of the closure.

A further difficulty with known prior art closures of this type is an inability to mass-produce them and undesirable overall size of the parts forming the structure.

This invention relates to a safety container of the squeeze bottle or rigid bottle types, and of a closure therefor of relatively simple construction that is inexpensive to produce on a mass production basis and fully effective for its intended purposes, making it difficult for children to gain access to dangerous contents but yet permit simple manipulation by a proper user for authorized removal 'of such contents and which provides safe and effective sealing against leakage when in closed condition.

Further features and objects of the invention are the provision of improved safety containers and closures therefor of a quickly mountable type that may be originally applied as by pressure or the like, and which closures are substantially leakproof and are extremely difficult if not impossible to remove from the container by children once they have been applied to the containers.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a container and a safety closure mounted thereon and embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the closure cap after application to the container after the latter has been filled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container and closure cap of FIG. 1 taken along the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a similar view of the closure of FIG. 1 in its open condition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 of a modified form of closure;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modified form of closure and container, and

FIG. 7 is a similar fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 6 of still another modified form of closure and container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the reference character 10 denotes a so-called squeeze bottle type of container or receptacle of any suitable material although preferably a flexible moldable synthetic material such as a high density polymer or polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of these materials or other moldable plastic having the characteristics of a solid ethylene polymer that may be deformed by squeezing so as to eject contents thereof. In the embodiment shown, this container 10 has substantially tubular shape with circular cross section and walls of substantially uniform thickness except at the bend 11 providing the open neck region 12 whereat the walls are thickened for purposes presently to be described. The upper rim 13 of the container about the container neck is internally and externally tapered. An externally provided annular groove 14 of substantially semicircular section is provided in the thickened bend 1 1 of the container and the upper wall portion 15 adjacent this groove is tapered to join the outer wall of the neck region 12. The lower wall portion 16 below groove 14 is substantially perpendicular.

If the container 10 is of flexible moldable material, its above-described components may readily all be formed during the molding process.

A safety cap 17 preferably of a molded synthetic material such as Polyalomer, a product of Eastman Kodak Company or such other material as is mentioned above is provided for force-fitted mounting as a closure over the neck 12 of container 10 after the latter has been filled. The inner sidewall 18 of this cap 14 is provided with a semicircular annular inwardly projecting bead 19 so located near its lower skirt portion 20 to fit tightly onto the groove 14 in sealing relationship therewith and the skirt portion 20 is intended to closely engage on the surface 16. The sidewall 18 of closure 17 is thickened at 21 in its upper region and provided with a tapered wall 22 which is joined to wall 18 by a curved portion 23.

The upper or top wall 24 of closure 17 is provided with a recess 25 whose bottom defines a transverse partition 26. This partition 26 is provided with a tubular annular projection 27 which has a tapered outer sidewall 28 facing reversely tapered wall 22 and defining with it a tapered annular groove 29 into which the tapered upper end 13 of the neck of the container may enter with a force fit when the closure cap is forcibly pressed onto said container neck 12. This force fit provides a second seal for the container contents. At least one opening or perforation 30 is provided in the partition 26 of wall 24 within the confines of the projection 27, so that container contents may be ejected when the container is squeezed. This opening 30 is normally closed off as by a stopper or plug 31 which is integral with a concealed flap 32 integral with the top wall 24. Plug 31 is sufficiently larger dimensional than opening 30 as to require force to insert it into opening 30 thereby effectively sealing off said opening in the closed condition of flap 32.

Authorized opening of the flap 32 of cap 17 from its flush fit in the recess 25 and the sealed closed condition of its plug 31 in the opening 30 is effected by hinging movement ofsaid concealed flap. This flap or tab 32 is integrally hinged at 33 to an edge of said top wall 24 of said closure and normally fits closely within the shallow recess 25 which is located in the central portion of said top wall 24. This recess 25 is of substantially rectangular shape and has opposite substantially vertical sidewalls 34 being joined by an end wall 35. The flap 32 is joined integrally at 33 to the closure cap 17 at its outer edge region and has an overall contour complemental in shape to the recess 25 terminating in a feathered edge 36 falling short of wall 35, and being provided also on its underface with the stopperlike projection 31 which is designed to fit tightly into and seal off opening 30 when the flap 32 lies flush within the recess 25. This tight fit also serves to retain the flap in its flush condition in said recess.

The unattached end of flap 32 which is provided with the thin flexible feathered edge or lip 36 is slightly spaced from wall 35 to permit insertion of a fingernail or other prying means under lip 36 to swing the flap 32 out of its nested retained position in recess 25 about its hinged joint at 33 with closure cap 17.

In an alternative closure embodiment 17a as seen in FIG. 5, the flap 32a is provided with an integral tapered recess 37a and skirt 37b that in the nested condition of said flap 32a fit respectively over a complemental annular nose 38a projecting upwardly into recess 25a around opening 30a and a recess 370 into which it fits tightly to seal opening 30a and retain flap 32a in its nested condition in recess 25a. The hinged joints 33 and 33a when flaps 32 or 32a are swung to the open condition seen in FIG. 4 permit these flaps to remain in their open condition without tending to return to closed condition so that the contents of the container may be squeezed out of the latter through the uncovered openings 30 or 3011.

Further modifications of cap closures and containers are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, the container llc is somewhat further modified by providing the annular groove 14c therefor with a smaller annular groove 39a. Similarly, the closure cap 170 is modified by providing its annular bead 190 with a further annular bead 40c complemental in shape to groove 390 so that upon mounting of closure 17c on the container the respective beads 19c and-40c will fit tightly and sealingly in the respective recesses 14c and 390, thus serving to maintain the closure 170 more securely on the container 100 on which it has been mounted. For like purposes, a reversal of structure is seen in FIG. 7 wherein he annular groove 14d of the container d is provided with an annular bead 41d and the bead 19d of closure 17d is provided with an annular recess 42d shaped to snugly receive the bead 41 d when the closure 17d is mounted on container 10d. Closure 17c or 17d otherwise may have the flap structure of FIGS. L4 or 5.

The caps 17 and 17a, 17b or 170 are molded preferably by injection molding and the synthetic plastic material thereof which may be the aforesaid Eastman Polyalomer, or polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers of these materials which in the wall thickness at the hinge 33, 33a as employed are sufficiently flexible to permit hinged movement of the respective flaps and yet provide sufficient strength to prevent their tearing away when grasped for hinging movement to opening condition or repeated opening or closing of the flaps.

Although closures 17, 17a, 17b and 170 have been shown in FIGS. l-7 as applicable to flexible squeeze-type containers they are likewise applicable to containers of different shapes and of rigid materials such as glass.

in such event the respective closures or caps require a modified flap provided with two protrusions designed to close and seal off two separate openings in the partitions like 26 thereof, one being for the ejection of liquid contents and the other for admission of air to replace dispensed liquid from the rigid container.

In all modifications after a container is filled, the closure caps 17, 17a, 170 or 17d with their flaps in nested condition are forced onto its open neck and the interengaging tapered surfaces and respective beads and grooves provide multiple seals to prevent leakage and also prevent removal. Thereafter, the opening of the closures can only be exposed by prying the respective flaps into unfolded condition by a fingernail or other prying means and uncovering of the flap openings. To reclose the containers, the flap of its closure is again simply renested in flush condition. This may be repeated indefinitely as required to permit removal of selected amounts of container contents. ON application of closures to the containers their respective beads are guided over the tapered wall portions 15, :1, 156 or 15d into seating and sealing engagement in respective grooves 14, 14a, 140 or 14d of container 10, 10a, or 10d.

Ordinarily children will find it difficult to unseat the flaps for opening. Likewise, accidental opening will not be avoided because the attempted user will be required first to manipulate the flap to an unseated condition to expose the openings or apertures, thus warning the user in dark or dimly lighted rooms of the dangerous contents of the container.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, variations in structural detail within the scope of the appended claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore, of limitation to the abstract or exact disclosure herein presented.

1. A container and safety closure means therefor, said container having a neck and an annular groove adjacent the base of said neck, said safety closure means comprising a one-piece force-fittable closure cap having a sidewall whose inner face has a beaded projection complemental to the groove in said neck and adapted to engage in said groove surface in such disposition as to prevent accidental removal of the mounted closure or cap from said container after it has been force fitted thereon and provide a seal for container contents, additional seal means between the neck of the container and said closure member, a flap portion integral with said cap and swingable hingedly therefrom, and at least one recess in said cap for receiving and retaining said flap in flush disposition relative to the top surface of said cap, said recess having at least one opening and said flap having a means for closing each such aperture for closing off and sealing such opening and said flap being swingable from said flush disposition to an open position to remove such means from such aperture without requiring removal of said cap from said container.

2. A container and safety closure therefor according to Claim 1, wherein said last-named means is a plug integral with said flap that is tightly engaged in said opening in said flush disposition in said cap or closure.

3. A container and safety closure therefor according to claim 1, wherein said last-named means includes a tapered skirt that extends from said flap into a complemental recess about said opening in said cap.

4. A container and safety closure therefor according to claim 1, wherein said groove has a further groove therein and said bead had a further bead engageable in said further groove.

5. A container and safety closure therefore according to claim 1, wherein said groove has an annular bead and said beaded portion has a complementally shaped annular groove in which said annular bead is engageable.

6. A container and safety closure means according to claim 1, wherein said neck has a tapered upper portion and said closure cap has a tapered groove into which said portion fits to provide said additional seal means. 

1. A container and safety closure means therefor, said container having a neck and an annular groove adjacent the base of said neck, said safety closure means comprising a one-piece forcefittable closure cap having a sidewall whose inner face has a beaded projection complemental to the groove in said neck and adapted to engage in said groove surface in such disposition as to prevent accidental removal of the mounted closure or cap from said container after it has been force fitted thereon and provide a seal for container contents, additional seal means between the neck of the container and said closure member, a flap portion integral with said cap and swingable hingedly therefrom, and at least one recess in said cap for receiving and retaining said flap in flush disposition relative to the top surface of said cap, said recess having at least one opening and said flap having a means for closing each such aperture for closing off and sealing such opening and said flap being swingable from said flush disposition to an open position to remove such means from such aperture without requiring removal of said cap from said container.
 2. A container and safety closure therefor according to Claim 1, wherein said last-named means is a plug integral with said flap that is tightly engaged in said opening in said flush disposition in said cap or closure.
 3. A container and safety closure therefor according to claim 1, wherein said last-named means includes a tapered skirt that extends from said flap into a complemental recess about said opening in said cap.
 4. A container and safety closure therefor according to claim 1, wherein said groove has a further groove therein and said bead had a further bead engageable in said further groove.
 5. A container and safety closure therefore according to claim 1, wherein said groove has an annular bead and said beaded portion has a complementally shaped annular groove in which said annular bead is engageable.
 6. A container and safety closure means according to claiM 1, wherein said neck has a tapered upper portion and said closure cap has a tapered groove into which said portion fits to provide said additional seal means. 